Improvement



' each side.

UNITED STATES IMPROVEMENT IN COTTON-PRESSES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 116,733, dated July 4, 1871.

To all whom fit may concer-n: l

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER' B. McGoN- NIGIL, of Helena, in the county of Phillips and State of Arkansas, have invented a new a-nd valuable Improvement in Cotton-Presses, and l do hereby decla-re that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the constructon and operation of the saine, reference being had to the annexed drawing making a part of this specification, and to the letters and iigures of reference marked thereon.

Figure l of the drawing is a representation of a central vertical section of my press. Fig. 2 is a detail.

This invention consists in an improved press for packing cotton and the like into bales 5 the obj ect being the production of a machine for that purpose that is simple in construction, easily operated, not liable to derangement, and effectual as to results.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, A represents the frame of a cotton-house, in which may be arranged a cotton-gin and the cottonpress, this press being especially adapted to indoor work iu pressing cotton into bales. B shows the ground-door of the cotton-house, and C the next iioor above. At each end of the press is a sash, formed ofthe uprights D and D, which are connected, at their upper and lower ends, by ties d and d. This sash passes through the iicor C, to which it is attached, and serves as a gnide for the head-block E and the tap-block E', the ends of which project between the uprights D and D on each side. The blocks E and E are connected by the slide-posts F and F', which pass through a strong bed-block, G, fixed in the tloor C. H and H are ties connected to the sash-posts D, and again connected to like ties bythe crossties h and It', forming, all together, an inclosure and a support for the box T, into which the sub stance to be pressed is iirst placed. The bale box K is formed of two detached end pieces, l and l', and two hinged doors, L and L', one on The end pieces are held in place, when in position, by ledges on the inner ends of the doors and the bottom slats, as shown. The bale-box is thus constructed so that the ends and sides of the box may be removed in order to cover the bale with sacking conveniently, and also to remove it. The follower-block M is provided with slots on its face, and is hinged, by short arms and hinges, to 011e side of the head-block E, so that when elevated above the box T it will swing to one side to allow of the substance to be compressed being put into the box. The screw N is fitted to a female screw in the top block E', and the ends ofthe screw-shaft e and e are iitted into the bed-block G and into a block and the lower licor B, all as shown. The screw N may be operated by means of the lever O, as shown, and hand-power; or by means of a lever, with suitable attachments, and horse-power. By turning the screw in one direction the sliding frame and head-block and top block, and consequently the follower-block, will be elevated, and by turning it in the other direction these parts will be lowered.

To use the machine the follower-block should be elevated by means of the screw, when it will swing back in an automatic manner out of the way of the mouth ot' the box T, into which the substance to be compressed should be placed. The sides ofthe box K shouldbe put in position, and, after the substance-cotton, for instancehas been well pushed down, the follower-block should be swung into place, and, -by means of the screw, forced down upon the substance far enough to form the bale, when the sides of the box K can be removed, the sacking put around the bale, and the bale removed.

The construction of this press presents peculiar advantages: The weight of the head-block, top block, and slide-posts presses directly upon the follower-block and aids in the compression, and the screw is so constructed and arranged that the work is speedily accomplished, thus affording a saving in power and time, as well as other advantages already pointed out.

I claim as my invention- The cotton-press herein described, constructed with frame l), slide-posts F, blocks E E', G, and M, screw N, and boxes K and T, arranged to operate'lsubstantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

ALEXANDER B.

Vitnesses H. C. BALDwnN, JOHN S. HORNOR.

MCGONNIGIL.

TENT CFFICE. 

